Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-24

passed by the House. Such an inference
would be incorrect, and the passage of q
bill fixing special election for the pur-
pose Of obtaining the sense of the people
alone waa not in accordance with his
views. The facts respecting Mr. Bates
connection with the matter are simply
that upon the invitation of members of
the House committee he went to Dover to
confer with them In the course of au in
formal consultation between the members
Of the committee and other members Of the
House, Mr.. Bates read the draft of a bill
which he had prepared embodying bis own
views. He stated frankly that he had no
idea that it would be accepted, but that
he had prepared 1t rather TO illustrate
clearly his own ideas on the subject. He
thought that, if the constitution of the
convention could be determined on in
advance of the election TO express the
sense Of the people and plan proposed
which would secure adequate representa-.
ton, not only Of local interests, but of the
general interests of the counties, together
with fair representation of the party in
the minority at the election, much of the
opposition TO the holding of the convention
would be removed. Under his proposed
bill, the sense of the people would be
taken upon specific proposal embodying
the whole constitution OF the proposed
convention, and the combination by the
election of delegates Of the vote ON the
subject of holding the convention would
ensure full vote Of the people at time
removed from an exciting political cam
| paign. The committee, however, having
settled upon their own plan, as afterwards
reported, Mr.. Bates was asked by them to
| put into shape one of the bills which had
been referred to them, and he therefore
assisted them in drafting amendments to
one of those bills to carry into effect their
conclusion; at the same time, he stated,
without qualification, his own belief that
only on the day of q general election
could full vote be obtained on the mere
question OF holding convention.
The bill drafted by Mr.. Bates, which
| contains proposals different from any Of
those which have been made, is rs fol-
lows;
Section ]. That convention of the peo-
pie OF the State Of Delaware, for the pur-
pose OF changing, altering, and amending
the existing constitution of the State, by
their delegates as hereinafter provided, be,
and the same Is hereby called to meet at
Dover on the first Tuesday In january,
A. D., l88' provided that said Gull be rati-
fed by majority Of the people OF said
state as hereinafter provided.
Section 2. That the said convention shall
consist OF ilfty delegates who shall be
elected as follows: One delegate from each
OF the hundreds of the State, except Will
mington hundred three delegates from the
city OF Wilmington, one of whom shall be
elected from each OF the assessment dis
tricts Of the said city, as now constituted by
law, and five delegates from each county Of
the State, to be elected on general ticket
In the counties respectively, each voter only
voting for three Of said five delegates, and
| the five candidates who have the hi CHEST
number OF votes to be elected.
Section Q. The qualified voters ot tn,
several counties, hundreds and asstssmenl
districts, respectively, shall be entit.ei to
vote for the. said delegates at the election
bereiniprovided for ;and any qualified voter
OF this State OF the age Of III years or up
wards, shall be eligible for the offiae Of
delegate to said convention.
Section 4. That the delegates to said
convention shall be elected at an election
to be held on the FIRST Tuesday after the first
Monday in November, A, D., 1887. The said
election shall be held at the same places, be
conducted by the same officers, In the same
manner, and according to the same regula-
tions, so far as they are applicable to the
purpose OF this act, as are prescribed con-
oerning the general election for repres enta-
tives, and 1t shall be the duty of the inspec-
tors and freeholders, judges OF elections In
the respective election districts OF the State,
totally all votes which may be cast at said
election In accordance with the provisions
Of this act and to make return thereof at
the same time, in the same manner and at
the same places as is prescribed In the acts
OF assembly entitled "An act regulating the
genera election" and any amendments
and supplements thereof, for making re-
turns OF tine electl0n OF representatives speci-
lying In theirr returns the persons voted foras
a delegate or delegates from a county, hum
dred or assessment district, respectively, as
Aforesaid. And It shall be the duty Of the
sheriff or other presiding officer OF the
board of canvass In each county, and the
inspector present at such board, before the
adjournment thereof, to make under their
hunds two certificates OF the votes cast at
said election, both for delegates Of said con-
ventton, and for or against convention as
herein provided, IN the same manner and
within the same time In which certificates
CT the election OF representatives are re-
quired by said act to be made. And 1t shall
be the duty Of the sheriffs or other presid-
ing officers to deliver within the time afore-
and the other to the prothonotary OF the
superior court Of Kent county; and 1t shall
be the duty Of the said prothonotary to
safely keep the same, and on any day OF the
meeting OF said convention, II the same
shall meet pursuant to this act. to deliver
the said certificates 80 respectively de-
posted In his custody, to the order OF the
convention II required, or to the person
named therein.
Section 5. That It shall be lawful for the
qualified voters Of this State at the said
election, In addition TO voting for delegates
as aforesaid, to vote upon the same ballot
on which delegates are voted for, "For a
Convention" or against Convention"
and all votes so cast shall be Tailed AMI re-
turned in like manner as is hereInbefore
provided with respect to the election Of del
sgates to the convention herein provided
for.
Section 9. That If, upon the return OF the
certificates as hereinafter provided, 1t shall
appear to the governor that a majority Of
all the citizens OF the State have voted "For
Convention (such majority to be ascer-
tanned by reference to the highest number |
OF votes cast In the State at any one OF the |
three preceding general electi0ns), then he |
shall, within one week after receiving said |
certificates, issue to each OF the delegates |
so elected certificate OF election, and ehall |
make publication in one or more newspapers |
In each county of the results of the said |
election.
Section Z. That II, upon the return OF the |
certificates as hereinbefore provided, 1t |
shall appear to the governor thRta majority |
OF all the citizens OF the State, ascertained |
as aforesaid, have not voted "For q Con- |
yentlon," then no certificates of election |
shall be issued as provided in section I, and |
the convention called by this act shall not |
meet; but In that case, the governor shall |
cause the result OF said election to be pub |
lished I'm one or more newspapers In each |
county and shall certify the same to the |
General Assembly at its next ensuing ses-
sion on or before the third day thereof.
Section 8. That II, upon the publication |
Of the returns OF said election, as herein |
provided, 1t shall appear that u majority |
OF all the cirlz 'ns OF the State, ascertained |
as aforesaid, shall have voted "For q Con- |
vention," then the delegates elected shall |
meet at Dover on the day named In section |
l OF this act, and shall proceed with the |
performance of their duties as convention
to change, alter and amend the existing |
constitution of the State.
Section 0. That the delegates and officers |
of the said convention shall be entitled to |
the like compensation that Is now paid to |
the members and officers OF the Geneial |
Assembly, and that the presiding officer of |
the convention be, and Is hereby authorized |
to draw his orders from time to time on the |
treasury OF the State for such compensation |
In favor OF the respective members and off,
GERS OF the said convention, and for the |
contingent expenses thereof, as authorized
by any resolution Of the said convention, |
and the treasurer OF the State Is hereby |
authorized and required to pay all orders |
so drawn by the presiding officer OF the said
convention.
Section 10. That 1t shall be the duty OF |
the secretary OF State to furnish the several |
sheriffs of the State certified copies of this |
act and the said sheritis shall give notice |
one month before the time Of the said elec- |
tion IN ali the newspapers of their respective |
counties and by 100 advertisements set up |
in the most public places In each county: